CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (ESPN CLARKSVILLE) – The Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association (TSSAA) has ruled that a Northeast High School football player was ineligible to play in five games during the 2018 season.
The school must forfeit five wins, according to the TSSAA.
The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System said in a release that TSSAA denied a hardship application from Northeast, which self-reported the inadvertent playing of the ineligible player.
“This situation has brought us closer together, and we still have an opportunity to excel,” Principal Tavis Massey said. “This team has the great combination of players, coaches, and the drive to succeed. That type of chemistry cannot be denied. In spite of the situation, I truly believe that we can continue to strive for a successful season.”
Northeast Athletic Director Bradley Hutson also commented on the ruling.
“Our focus during this situation will continue to be with our students, as it has always been at NEHS. I have faith and confidence in this group of young men and coaching staff to remain focused on the task at hand, despite the situation. The coaching staff and student athletes still possess the potential to achieve what they set out to achieve, and we will continue to focus on supporting them on this endeavor,” Hutson said.
Northeast High School will be required to send a letter to each of the five schools against which the ineligible athlete participated.
Additionally, the school will be fined $250 as a penalty. The student athlete has been deemed ineligible for the remainder of the season.